New Year, New Me? – Let’s make it happen…

Lose weight? Check. Start exercising? Check. Stop smoking? Check.

It’s that time of year again, and we know you have been putting it off until the New Year. And the bad news? Yep, that time has finally arrived! It can be daunting when your New Year’s resolution list is as long as your Christmas shopping list but don’t let that thought put you off just yet.

Now that the post-holiday slump is here, the thought of being able to keep your resolutions by March, February or even late January may increase your anxiety unnecessarily. With the holiday decorations all packed away, the frustration you feel when you look at your bank statement and see that you have been wasting £20 a month on an unused gym membership may just make the remaining winter months feel rather bleak.

Look at it like this – Why do we make a resolution in the New Year? Is it to break a habit? Do we need to be more generous with our time? Is it to make a positive change in our character? It is, of course, personal to each and every one of us! But how do we go about making real change? Setting small, attainable goals throughout the year, instead of one overwhelming goal on the 1st January can help you finally get to the place where you want to be. So let’s start by breaking the process down into smaller chunks:

Think Big, Start Small

How Do You Eat An Elephant? One Bite at a Time! You need to start by making smaller resolutions that you believe you can stick to. If you’re looking to lose weight, instead of rushing to the gym and getting a personal trainer, opt for going for a walk every morning. This way you’ll be able to continually build momentum until you feel like you need more of a challenge by going to the gym or joining a running club. Perhaps you want to start eating more healthily, try replacing a dessert with something else you like such as fruit or yogurt. This way your diet won’t be a form of punishment.

Change one behavior at a time

Unhealthy habits develop over a sustained period of time. This is also the same when you want to develop a healthier habit. Try not to drive yourself crazy by reassessing everything in your life. Instead, work on one problem at a time and build the momentum from each achievement.

Speak up

Talk to your family and friends and share what you are doing with them. Consider joining a support group where like-minded people are in similar positions. That way you will all be able to motivate one another when you feel like you are struggling.

Go easy on yourself

Perfection is not realistic. Bear in mind that minor setbacks when reaching your goals are completely normal! Don’t beat yourself up about it, or worse still, give up all because you had a minor lapse. Everyone has ups and downs; try to recover from your mistakes and get back on track. Just remember you need to get back on the horse and lead yourself back onto the road to success!

Do you have any tips on sticking to your New Year’s Resolutions? Share in the comments below!